Agronomic Strategies to Improve N Efficiency Indices in Organic Durum Wheat Grown in Mediterranean Area

Organic farming systems are often constrained by limited soil nitrogen (N) availability. Here we evaluated the effect of foliar organic N and sulphur (S), and selenium (Se) application on durum wheat, considering N uptake, utilization efficiency (NUtE), grain yield, and protein concentration as target variables. Field trials were conducted in 2018 and 2019 on two old (Cappelli and old Saragolla) and two modern (Marco Aurelio and Nadif) Italian durum wheat varieties. Four organic fertilization strategies were evaluated, i.e., the control (CTR, dry blood meal at sowing), the application of foliar N (CTR + N) and S (CTR + S), and their joint use (CTR + NS). Furthermore, a foliar application of sodium selenate was evaluated. Three factors—variety, fertilization strategies and selenium application—were arranged in a split-split-plot design and tested in two growing seasons. The modern variety Marco Aurelio led to the highest NUtE and grain yield in both seasons. S and N applications had a positive synergic effect, especially under drought conditions, on pre-anthesis N uptake, N translocation, NUtE, and grain yield. Se treatment improved post-anthesis N uptake and NUtE, leading to 17% yield increase in the old variety Cappelli, and to 13% and 14% yield increase in Marco Aurelio and Nadif, mainly attributed to NUtE increase. This study demonstrated that the synergistic effect of foliar applications could improve organic durum wheat yields in Mediterranean environments, especially on modern varieties.

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Morphological and Physiological Root Traits and Their Relationship with Nitrogen Uptake in Wheat Varieties Released from 1915 to 2013

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061149 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1149

Author(s):

Guglielmo Puccio ◽

Rosolino Ingraffia ◽

Dario Giambalvo ◽

Gaetano Amato ◽

Alfonso S. Frenda

Keyword(s):

Durum Wheat ◽

Root System ◽

N Uptake ◽

Specific Root Length ◽

Root Traits ◽

Wheat Breeding ◽

N Availability ◽

Wheat Varieties ◽

Uptake Efficiency ◽

Positive Effects

Identifying genotypes with a greater ability to absorb nitrogen (N) may be important to reducing N loss in the environment and improving the sustainability of agricultural systems. This study extends the knowledge of variability among wheat genotypes in terms of morphological or physiological root traits, N uptake under conditions of low soil N availability, and in the amount and rapidity of the use of N supplied with fertilizer. Nine genotypes of durum wheat were chosen for their different morpho-phenological characteristics and year of their release. The isotopic tracer 15N was used to measure the fertilizer N uptake efficiency. The results show that durum wheat breeding did not have univocal effects on the characteristics of the root system (weight, length, specific root length, etc.) or N uptake capacity. The differences in N uptake among the studied genotypes when grown in conditions of low N availability appear to be related more to differences in uptake efficiency per unit of weight and length of the root system than to differences in the morphological root traits. The differences among the genotypes in the speed and the ability to take advantage of the greater N availability, determined by N fertilization, appear to a certain extent to be related to the development of the root system and the photosynthesizing area. This study highlights some variability within the species in terms of the development, distribution, and efficiency of the root system, which suggests that there may be sufficient grounds for improving these traits with positive effects in terms of adaptability to difficult environments and resilience to climate change.

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Switching from conventional tillage to no-tillage: Soil N availability, N uptake, 15N fertilizer recovery, and grain yield of durum wheat

Field Crops Research ◽

10.1016/j.fcr.2018.01.018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 218 ◽

pp. 171-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Dario Giambalvo ◽

Gaetano Amato ◽

Giuseppe Badagliacca ◽

Rosolino Ingraffia ◽

Giuseppe Di Miceli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

N Uptake ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

N Availability ◽

No Tillage ◽

Soil N ◽

Soil N Availability ◽

15N Fertilizer ◽

Fertilizer Recovery

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Improving wheat grain yield via promotion of water and nitrogen utilization in arid areas

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-92894-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yan Tan ◽

Qiang Chai ◽

Guang Li ◽

Cai Zhao ◽

Aizhong Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Water Uptake ◽

N Uptake ◽

N Fertilization ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Availability ◽

Fertilizer N ◽

Local Practice ◽

N Utilization ◽

N Rates

AbstractCrop yield is limited by water and nitrogen (N) availability. However, in Hexi Corridor of northwestern China, water scarcity and excessive fertilizer N in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production causes serious conflicts between water and N supply and crop demand. A field experiment was conducted from 2016 to 2018 to evaluate whether reducing of irrigation and fertilizer N will reduce grain yield of wheat. There were two irrigation quotas (192 and 240 mm) and three fertilizer N rates (135, 180, and 225 kg N ha−1). The results showed that reducing irrigation to 192 mm and N rate to 180 kg N ha−1 reduced water uptake, water uptake efficiency, and N uptake of spring wheat as compared to local practice (i.e., 240 mm irrigation and 225 kg N ha−1 fertilizer). Whereas, it improved water and N utilization efficiency, and water and N productivity. Consequently, the irrigation and N rate reduced treatment achieved the same quantity of grain yield as local practice. The path analysis showed that interaction effect between irrigation and N fertilization may attributable to the improvement of grain yield with lower irrigation and N rate. The enhanced water and N utilization allows us to conclude that irrigation quota at 192 mm coupled with fertilizer N rate at 180 kg N ha−1 can be used as an efficient practice for wheat production in arid irrigation areas.

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Genetic control of grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in tropical maize

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2008001100010 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (11) ◽

pp. 1517-1523 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Leandro Vagno de Souza ◽

Glauco Vieira Miranda ◽

João Carlos Cardoso Galvão ◽

Fernando Roberto Eckert ◽

Éder Eduardo Mantovani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Genetic Control ◽

Combining Ability ◽

N Uptake ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Availability ◽

Maize Genotypes ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

N Rates ◽

Additive Genetic Effects

The objectives of this work were to study the genetic control of grain yield (GY) and nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE, grain yield/N applied) and its primary components, N uptake efficiency (NUpE, N uptake/N applied) and N utilization efficiency (NUtE, grain yield/N uptake), in maize grown in environments with high and low N availability. Experiments with 31 maize genotypes (28 hybrid crosses and three controls) were carried out in soils with high and low N rates, in the southeast of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. There was a reduction of 23.2% in average GY for maize grown in soil with low N, in comparison to that obtained with high N. There were 26.5, 199 and 400% increases in NUtE, NUpE, and NUE, respectively, for maize grown with low N. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were significant for GY, NUE and NUpE for maize grown in high N soil. Only GCA was significant for NUpE for maize grown in low N soil. The GCA and SCA for NUtE were not significant in either environment. Additive and non-additive genetic effects are responsible for the genetic control of NUE and GY for maize grown in soils with high N availability, although additive effects are more important.

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The Response of Durum Wheat to the Preceding Crop in a Mediterranean Environment

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2014/717562 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Laura Ercoli ◽

Alessandro Masoni ◽

Silvia Pampana ◽

Marco Mariotti ◽

Iduna Arduini

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

Unit Area ◽

Management Practice ◽

N Uptake ◽

Field Research ◽

Mediterranean Environment ◽

Wheat Varieties ◽

Preceding Crop ◽

The Impact

Crop sequence is an important management practice that may affect durum wheat (Triticum durumDesf.) production. Field research was conducted in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons in a rain-fed cold Mediterranean environment to examine the impact of the preceding crops alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.), maize (Zea maysL.), sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.), and bread wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) on yield and N uptake of four durum wheat varieties. The response of grain yield of durum wheat to the preceding crop was high in 2007-2008 and was absent in the 2008-2009 season, because of the heavy rainfall that negatively impacted establishment, vegetative growth, and grain yield of durum wheat due to waterlogging. In the first season, durum wheat grain yield was highest following alfalfa, and was 33% lower following wheat. The yield increase of durum wheat following alfalfa was mainly due to an increased number of spikes per unit area and number of kernels per spike, while the yield decrease following wheat was mainly due to a reduction of spike number per unit area. Variety growth habit and performance did not affect the response to preceding crop and varieties ranked in the order Levante > Saragolla = Svevo > Normanno.

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Genotypic Difference in the Responses to Nitrogen Fertilizer Form in Tibetan Wild and Cultivated Barley

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10030595 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 595

Author(s):

Shama Naz ◽

Qiufang Shen ◽

Jonas Lwalaba Wa Lwalaba ◽

Guoping Zhang

Keyword(s):

Wild Barley ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Inorganic Nitrogen ◽

N Uptake ◽

Total Soluble Protein ◽

Organic N ◽

Genotypic Difference ◽

N Availability ◽

Tibetan Wild Barley ◽

Cultivated Barley

Nitrogen (N) availability and form have a dramatic effect on N uptake and assimilation in plants, affecting growth and development. In the previous studies, we found great differences in low-N tolerance between Tibetan wild barley accessions and cultivated barley varieties. We hypothesized that there are different responses to N forms between the two kinds of barleys. Accordingly, this study was carried out to determine the response of four barley genotypes (two wild, XZ16 and XZ179; and two cultivated, ZD9 andHua30) under 4Nforms (NO3−, NH4+, urea and glycine). The results showed significant reduction in growth parameters such as root/shoot length and biomass, as well as photosynthesis parameters and total soluble protein content under glycine treatment relative to other N treatments, for both wild and cultivated barley, however, XZ179 was least affected. Similarly, ammonium adversely affected growth parameters in both wild and cultivated barleys, with XZ179 being severely affected. On the other hand, both wild and cultivated genotypes showed higher biomass, net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll and protein in NO3− treatment relative to other three N treatments. It may be concluded that barley undisputedly grows well under inorganic nitrogen (NO3−), however in response to the organic N wild barley prefer glycine more than cultivated barely.

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Ethephon Reduces Maize Nitrogen Uptake but Improves Nitrogen Utilization in Zea mays L.

Frontiers in Plant Science ◽

10.3389/fpls.2021.762736 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yushi Zhang ◽

Yubin Wang ◽

Churong Liu ◽

Delian Ye ◽

Danyang Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Plant Density ◽

N Uptake ◽

Utilization Efficiency ◽

N Application ◽

Total N ◽

N Concentration ◽

High Plant Density ◽

Ethephon Treatment ◽

N Use

Increasing use of plant density or/and nitrogen (N) application has been introduced to maize production in the past few decades. However, excessive planting density or/and use of fertilizer may cause reduced N use efficiency (NUE) and increased lodging risks. Ethephon application improves maize lodging resistance and has been an essential measure in maize intensive production systems associated with high plant density and N input in China. Limited information is available about the effect of ethephon on maize N use and the response to plant density under different N rates in the field. A three-year field study was conducted with two ethephon applications (0 and 90 g ha−1), four N application rates (0, 75, 150, and 225 kg N ha−1), and two plant densities (6.75 plants m−2 and 7.5 plants m−2) to evaluate the effects of ethephon on maize NUE indices (N agronomic efficiency, NAE; N recovery efficiency, NRE; N uptake efficiency, NUpE; N utilization efficiency, NUtE; partial factor productivity of N, PFPN), biomass, N concentration, grain yield and N uptake, and translocation properties. The results suggest that the application of ethephon decreased the grain yield by 1.83–5.74% due to the decrease of grain numbers and grain weight during the three experimental seasons. Meanwhile, lower biomass, NO3- and NH4+ fluxes in xylem bleeding sap, and total N uptake were observed under ethephon treatments. These resulted in lower NAE and NUpE under the ethephon treatment at a corresponding N application rate and plant density. The ethephon treatment had no significant effects on the N concentration in grains, and it decreased the N concentration in stover at the harvesting stage, while increasing the plant N concentration at the silking stage. Consequently, post-silking N remobilization was significantly increased by 14.10–32.64% under the ethephon treatment during the experimental periods. Meanwhile, NUtE significantly increased by ethephon.

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Foliar application of sodium selenate induces regulation in yield formation, grain quality characters and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline biosynthesis in fragrant rice

BMC Plant Biology ◽

10.1186/s12870-019-2104-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Haowen Luo ◽

Bin Du ◽

Longxin He ◽

Axiang Zheng ◽

Shenggang Pan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carboxylic Acid ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Grain Quality ◽

Foliar Application ◽

Higher Plants ◽

Sodium Selenate ◽

Rice Varieties ◽

Fragrant Rice ◽

The Stability ◽

Heading Stage

Abstract Background Selenium (Se) is a beneficial element for higher plants and essential for mammals. To study the effect of the foliar application of sodium selenate on fragrant rice performance, a pot experiment was conducted in Guangdong, China. At the initial heading stage, one-time foliar application of sodium selenate with concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 μmol·L− 1 (named CK, Se1, Se2, Se3, Se4 and Se5, respectively) were foliar applied on two fragrant rice varieties, ‘Meixiangzhan-2’ and ‘Xiangyaxiangzhan’. Results Selenate application at the initial heading stage not only improved the grain yield of fragrant rice by increasing the seed-setting rate and grain weight, but also promoted the grain quality by increasing crude protein contents and lowering the chalky rice rate. Furthermore, Se applications enhanced the biosynthesis of 2-acetyl-1- pyrroline (2-AP), the main aromatic compound, by increasing the contents of precursors (△1- pyrroline, proline and pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (P5C)) and the activities of enzymes (proline dehydrogenase (PRODH), △1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid synthetase (P5CS), and ornithine aminotransferase (OAT)) in fragrant rice. The results also showed that foliar application of sodium selenate enhanced the antioxidant system of both varieties by promoting the activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reducing the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, the real-time PCR analyses depicted that foliar application of selenate up-regulated the GPX1, GPX4 and CATC transcripts. The higher antioxidative enzymatic activities might strength the stress resistant to ensure the stability of yield in fragrant rice form abiotic stress. Conclusions Foliar applications of sodium selenate at the initial heading stage increased the grain 2-AP content by enhancing the biosynthesis-related enzymes and precursors. The grain yield and quality of fragrant rice also increased due to selenate application. Furthermore, foliar application of selenate promoted the activities of enzymes such as POD, SOD and CAT and up-regulated the expression of gene GPX4, GPX1 and CATC.

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Grain nitrogen concentration differences among three sorghum hybrids with similar grain yield

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/a98029 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 137 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Kamoshita ◽

M. Cooper ◽

R. C. Muchow ◽

S. Fukai

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Concentration ◽

N Uptake ◽

Grain Filling ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

N Availability ◽

N Accumulation ◽

N Concentration ◽

Grain Nitrogen

The differences in grain nitrogen (N) concentration among 3 sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) hybrids with similar grain yield were examined under N-limiting conditions in relation to the availability of assimilate and N to grain. Several manipulation treatments [N fertiliser application, lower leaves shading, thinning (reduced plant population), whole canopy shading, canopy opening, spikelet removal] were imposed to alter the relative N and assimilate availability to grain under full irrigation supply. Grain N concentration increased by either increased grain N availability or yield reduction while maintaining N uptake. Grain N concentration, however, did not decrease in the treatments where relative abundance of N compared with assimilate was intended to be reduced. The minimum levels of grain N concentration differed from 0.95% (ATx623/RTx430) to 1.14% (DK55plus) in these treatments. Regardless of the extent of variation in assimilate and N supply to grain, the ranking of hybrids on grain N concentration was consistent across the manipulation treatments. For the 3 hybrids examined, higher grain N concentration was associated with higher N uptake during grain filling and, to a lesser extent, with higher N mobilisation. Hybrids with larger grain N accumulation had a larger number of grains. There was no tradeoff between grain N concentration and yield, suggesting that grain protein concentration can be improved without sacrificing yield potential.

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Identification and characterization of a natural polymorphism in FT-A2 associated with increased number of grains per spike in wheat

Theoretical and Applied Genetics ◽

10.1007/s00122-021-03992-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Priscilla Glenn ◽

Junli Zhang ◽

Gina Brown-Guedira ◽

Noah DeWitt ◽

Jason P. Cook ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Durum Wheat ◽

Tetraploid Wheat ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Yield Component ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

Grain Number ◽

Wheat Varieties ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Grain Number Per Spike

Abstract Key message We discovered a natural FT-A2 allele that increases grain number per spike in both pasta and bread wheat with limited effect on heading time. Abstract Increases in wheat grain yield are necessary to meet future global food demands. A previous study showed that loss-of-function mutations in FLOWERING LOCUS T2 (FT2) increase spikelet number per spike (SNS), an important grain yield component. However, these mutations were also associated with reduced fertility, offsetting the beneficial effect of the increases in SNS on grain number. Here, we report a natural mutation resulting in an aspartic acid to alanine change at position 10 (D10A) associated with significant increases in SNS and no negative effects on fertility. Using a high-density genetic map, we delimited the SNS candidate region to a 5.2-Mb region on chromosome 3AS including 28 genes. Among them, only FT-A2 showed a non-synonymous polymorphism (D10A) present in two different populations segregating for the SNS QTL on chromosome arm 3AS. These results, together with the known effect of the ft-A2 mutations on SNS, suggest that variation in FT-A2 is the most likely cause of the observed differences in SNS. We validated the positive effects of the A10 allele on SNS, grain number, and grain yield per spike in near-isogenic tetraploid wheat lines and in an hexaploid winter wheat population. The A10 allele is present at very low frequency in durum wheat and at much higher frequency in hexaploid wheat, particularly in winter and fall-planted spring varieties. These results suggest that the FT-A2 A10 allele may be particularly useful for improving grain yield in durum wheat and fall-planted common wheat varieties.

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